by Joy Tom
How to Get into Law School: Requirements, Strategy, and Expert Tips
Ready to apply to law school? Learn what schools really want, how to stand out with your essays and experience, and when to apply to maximize your chances.
With law school admissions becoming increasingly more competitive, preparation is everything. Not only are the “hard” elements (such as your GPA and LSAT/GRE score) significant, the “soft” elements (including your personal statement, resume, letters of recommendation [LORs], and interviews) can be equally if not sometimes more impactful.
At Accepted, our years of experience helping applicants navigate the admissions process successfully gives us insight into how you can best position yourself for success. In this blog post, I’ll share an overview of what we’ve learned about building a JD application that maximizes candidates’ potential to achieve positive results.
Table of Contents:
- Understanding Law School Admissions and What Schools Look For
- Crafting Compelling Law School Applications and Personal/Optional Statements
- Law School Interviews
- Final Strategies and Tips for Getting into Law School
- What If I Didn’t Get into Law School?
- How Accepted Can Help You Get into Law School
Understanding Law School Admissions and What Schools Look For
Not surprisingly, law schools value academic excellence, intellectual curiosity, writing ability, and ethical motivation. While test scores and GPA play a large role, committees by and large take a far more holistic approach to admissions – equally emphasizing a candidate’s story. That story is laid out through your personal statement, optional statements/addenda, resume, letters of recommendation, and sometimes interviews. Let’s cover some key points regarding each of these components and what they are intended to show about you as a potential law school student and legal professional.
Requirements and Academic Readiness: GPA, LSAT, and LORs
GPA Expectations
One of the first considerations for any law school applicant is “Do I have the grades?” Your past performance is a good indicator of whether you can meet the rigors of law school. At T14 schools, the entering class median GPAs in 2025 generally ranged from 3.88 to 3.99. Medians for T20 to T50 schools that same year ranged from about 3.70 to 3.90. And the numbers keep trending up. If you’re just starting your undergraduate career and are considering a future in law, bear these numbers in mind.
Your academic record is important. If you’re a sophomore or junior, remember that upward trends and rigorous coursework strengthen your profile.
LSAT or GRE Scores
Aside from your GPA, your test scores are the other “hard” component that law schools look at. The most widely accepted testing option is the LSAT. The GRE is accepted at approximately half of law schools, while the newest option, JD-Next, is accepted by about a quarter of the schools. Finally, the GMAT is accepted by a few schools. How you determine which option is the best one for you depends on a number of factors. But generally, we recommend taking the LSAT unless you have a compelling reason for choosing one of the other options. Be sure to review requirements for all the schools where you are considering applying before making a choice.
Your target score on any of the tests ultimately depends on the school. For T14 schools, LSAT medians generally fall in the 170 and above/95% range, while T20 to T50 schools fall in the 160s/80% range. Statistics for the other test options are more difficult to decipher, but applicants should aim for the same percentage ranges to be competitive if choosing those routes. The caveat is that you will always find anomalies. I have had successful applicants who have fallen slightly outside of median ranges but are still admitted to the school of their choice. Schools will take a holistic approach, so preparation and presentation are critical.
Ideally, you’ll start the application process knowing your standardized test score, so early preparation that includes professional test guidance is crucial. As a general rule of thumb, I highly recommend getting some personal tutoring if you have the resources. Individualized test prep offers a targeted approach that allows you to focus on your specific areas of weakness – something that general courses cannot provide.
Letters of Recommendation
Your LORs are the final gauge of your academic readiness. I cannot emphasize enough how important your LORs are to your application. Schools typically require two to three. I almost always suggest getting letters from academic recommenders. Law schools are most interested in whether you are prepared to do well in law school. Who better to provide that assessment than people who have worked with you academically? Ask your professors for recommendations, but don’t dismiss teaching assistants. What’s most important is that someone who knows you well writes your letter. Choose recommenders who can provide specific details or anecdotes about their relationship with you – who can genuinely attest to your abilities and strengths as a student. The caveat to this is if you have been out of school for five or more years. Logically, at that point, your record as an employee will be far more relevant and informative.
Remember that LORs are the one component of your application that you have no control over in terms of timing, so be sure to ask for recommendations early.
Crafting Compelling Law School Applications and Personal/Optional Statements
Although the admissions process places much emphasis on the “hard” components of a law school application outlined above, the “soft” components can be equally, if not more, impactful. With anything that you compose, remember that each component is a chance to showcase your advocacy, critical reasoning, and writing skills.
Personal Statement
The often-dreaded personal statement is the most important part of crafting a compelling law school application. In two to three pages, admissions officers are looking for evidence of your self-awareness, authenticity, and clarity. In general, your personal statement will provide the story of “Why law?” – sharing insights into who you are, your personality, and your motivations that go beyond the numbers. What the personal statement should not be, however, is a regurgitation of your resume.
As an Accepted consultant, I help applicants develop unique personal statements by first having them answer a questionnaire designed to stimulate the introspection process. Then together, we consider themes and through lines that almost always show up in the responses. From there, we can craft a cohesive and compelling essay that genuinely and thoughtfully tells the story of why obtaining a JD is the best way for the applicant to achieve their goals.
Lived Experience Essay and Optional Statements
Many law schools will also provide you with the opportunity to submit a “lived experience” essay that allows you to discuss how your unique life circumstances have helped shape who you are and the qualities that will help you enhance the law school environment and ultimately the legal profession.
I highly encourage applicants to write this essay. Schools are giving you another opportunity to paint a fuller picture of who you are. Your lived experience essay should complement your personal statement, but be careful to avoid repetition and contradiction.
Similarly, some schools will offer applicants a chance to submit additional optional statements. I encourage everyone to take advantage of these opportunities. Optional statements help you provide a more well-rounded picture of yourself as a person, and answering them shows dedication and true interest in the school.
In addition, schools often allow applicants to submit a “Why us?” essay (it can also be offered as an optional statement). Try your best to write this essay when given the opportunity, and provide specific reasons for why the school is a good fit for you.
Addenda
Law schools also provide you with the opportunity to include addenda about your GPA and LSAT score, but write these only if you have something unique to say. For example, admissions committees understand that many students have grade anomalies during freshman year because it’s a period of transition, so you don’t need to include that in your application if that was the case. If, however, you suffered from a grave illness or personal tragedy and did not discuss its impact elsewhere in the application, then do include that experience in your addendum.
Note that the Character and Fitness Addendum is not optional. If you have something to disclose, do so. When in doubt, err on the side of disclosing it and be specific about the details of the incident, including the resolution. Always express accountability and your dedication to prevent further incidents.
Law School Resume
Your resume should focus on your education, honors, skills, and achievements. Don’t forget to include volunteer work and significant extracurricular activities. Were you the president of your college’s pre-law club? Did you spend a significant amount of time volunteering at your local homeless shelter? Law schools value leadership, initiative, and community engagement, so don’t omit these experiences.
I recommend finding examples of law school resumes to help you with formatting ideas. Be sure to keep your formatting clean and concise.
As a side note, a common question from applicants is “How much work or life experience do you need for law school?” Ultimately, I believe the answer is “Enough to show that you truly understand why you are applying to law school.” For some, that might mean applying right out of undergrad. But I have found that many successful applicants apply later with one to three years of work experience. Taking a gap year (or more than one) can only provide more insight into who you are and what you want out of life. Maturity and perspective often help applicants stand out.
Law School Interviews
When it comes to interviews, you’ll find that policies vary across schools. Some schools, such as Harvard and the University of Chicago, require interviews. Others offer applicants the option of interviewing, as Northwestern does, or invite select applicants to interview, as Columbia and Georgetown do.
Interviews allow admissions committees to see if who you are “on paper” aligns with who you are in real life. During the process, interviewers will assess your communication style and your professionalism. They’ll be looking to see if you’re not only bright and motivated but also personable and likely to interact well with others. After all, they ultimately want students who are hirable.
Don’t go into an interview cold. Be sure to prepare and practice – ideally, with someone who has insight and experience with the process such as an Accepted consultant.
Final Strategies and Tips for Getting into Law School
- Start early. Plan your LSAT and application materials six to 12 months in advance.
- Focus on fit. Research schools based on their academic strengths and culture.
- Apply early. Many schools use a rolling admissions process, meaning they evaluate applications in the order that they are received. Submitting on the earlier side may provide an advantage. The earlier you submit in the cycle, the more acceptances the school has to offer. I recommend aiming for Thanksgiving.
- Prioritize clarity in your personal statement. Draft a statement that has a cohesive and compelling theme that shows why law school is the next logical step for you in order to achieve your goals.
- Seek feedback from mentors or consultants. Have trusted mentors or a consultant read your statement(s) to verify that you have gotten your intended point across in your writing.
- Stay authentic. Committees can sense rehearsed answers. Be genuine in your statements and in your interviews.
- Be professional and consistent across every part of your application. Use consistent formatting and always proofread.
What If I Didn’t Get into Law School?
If – after all your hard work and dedication to the application process – you are not accepted to the school of your choice, know that qualified candidates face increasingly competitive odds every year, and rejection does not have to mean giving up on your dream of becoming a lawyer.
If you do decide to reapply, consider strengthening your LSAT or other test score with additional preparation or raising your GPA by taking some additional academically rigorous courses. Revisit and revise your essays, and reevaluate your recommendation choices. Finally, use the extra time to gain more experience through employment, an internship, or community work.
How Accepted Can Help You Get into Law School
Law school admissions success is about preparation, reflection, and strategy. At Accepted, our law school consultants are experts at guiding applicants through the process. With decades of experience, we can provide personalized strategy, in-depth essay review, and interview prep. If you’re ready to stand out in a competitive applicant pool, start your journey with Accepted today with a free consultation
Related Resources
